Film gate release



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Sept.'10, 1946. w. A. LEBUS 2,407,339

. FILM: GAEE RELEASE Original Filed Nov. 9, 1942 e Sheets-Sh eet 4 IN VEN TOR.

Y W. A. LEBUS FILM GATE RELEASE Original Filed Nov. 9,. 1942 e sheets-sh ete 0 M E V W gamma/Lem BY A Patented Sept. 10, 1946 2,407,339 F'ILM GATE RELEASE William A. Lebus,

Prismacolor, Illinois Chicago, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Ill., assignor to Original application November 9, 1942, Serial No.

464,961, now Patent No. 2,384,319, dated September 4, 1945. Divided and this application March 18,1944, Serial No. 527,100

12 Claims. (01. 8828) The present invention is directed to a new form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts all embodied in a projector adapted for multiple color picture projection, and the subject matter thereof has been divided out of my prior application for patent on an improvement in a projector filed November 9, 1942, Serial No. 464,961, now Patent No. 2,384,319, dated September 4, 1945. Reference may be had to said prior application for a fuller description of many of the details of construction embodied in the present application but which form no part of the present subject matter. This projector is of the type wherein individual images or colored cut-outs of the same photographed object are provided by a film or a plate and are projected upon a screen by an assembly of juxtaposed lenses or lens groups, and wherein the respective groups of lenses are positioned in the paths of light that are passed through the respective color filters and wherein the images are brought into focus upon a common plane comprising a picture screen so as to present a composite colored picture by the superimposed relation of the different colored images. In the device of the present invention, the photographed objects are provided on a film in triplicate and in black and white by any suitable camera for this purpose, and the film is fed vertically through the machine. The same machine could be constructed to feed the film horizontally if that should be desired depending upon the type of film and the nature of the camera producing this film.

An object of this invention is the arrangement and combination of parts which provide a pivot- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the projector embodying the new and novel features of my invention, partially broken away and in section, to illustrate the film gate and mechanism for retracting the pressure plates thereof;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the film gate and lens housing taken on the line 2--2 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the lamp housing illustrating the pressure plate and associated parts of the film gate; I

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the lens housing as viewed from the film end thereof and illustrating the stationary plate of the film gate;

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the lens housing taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating the pressure plate retracting mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view as taken substantially along the line 1- 1. of Fig. 8 illustrating certain of the film transport mechanism parts, and a fragment of the pressure plate retracting lever; I

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse cross sectional view through the film transport mechanism, taken substantially through th lines 88 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9--9 of Fig] 1;

Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive are fragmentary illustrations of certain of the working parts of the film transport mechanism showing the same in various operative relationships to illustrate certain steps in the operation of said film transport mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a detail side elevation of the pressure plate retracting lever; and

Fig. 14 is a detail horizontal section of the latching means between the lamp housing and lens housing taken substantially on the line I l-440i Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the projector is pivotally supported at I upon a base 2 and may be suitably tilted as by the levelling screw mechanism 3 in a known manner. The projector housing is primarily divided into a main casing or lamp housing 4 and aims housing 6 which is pivotally supported upon the vertically disposed pin 1 carried by the lugs 8 of the main housing 4. As in the above identified application, in order to maintain the pivotal lens housing in closed and abutting relation inrespect to the main housing 4, the side of the lens housing 6 opposite the hinges is provided, as shown in Fig. 14 with a latch spring I15 having a'hole I16 adapted to snap over th fixed pin I11 withthe latter engaging in the hole at I16 of the spring I15. This will positively hold the relatively movable housing in closed relation, and a hand operated button H8 may be provided, which when depressed engages the end of the spring H5 and moves said spring sufficiently inwardly to have the hole Ht clear the end of the pin I'll for opening the lens housing. The film may be fed through the projector housing in any desirable manner and in the present construction the film supply reel it is pivotally mounted on the bracket ll secured to the main housing ll by a knurled screw l2 and the film is passed through the projector housing substantially along the lin of the opposing surfaces of the fixedly supported main housing and the pivotal lens housing 6 and passes through a film gate 48 and through suitable mechanism comprising the film transport unit l3 which is adapted for moving the film through the projector and for driving the film rewind reel l5.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 it is to. be noted that the main lamp housing l contains the necessary light projecting system which may be generally described as follows: The light source comprises the lamp [5, a reflector l'l disposed rearwardly with respect to the lamp with a pair of condensing lenses l3 and I9 disposed forwardly of the lamp and in the path of the reflected light.

A color filter unit comprising a removable frame 22 carrying the colored lenses 2'3, 24 and 25 i suitably nested in appropriate guideways such as 26 in Fig. 2 in the forward end of the main housing.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, it is to be noted that the film passes downwardly substantially in line with the meeting edges of the pivotal lens housing 6 and the forward face of the lamp housing 4 which are designated as 34 and 35, respectively. In order that the film may enter the projector along the aforementioned juncture line, the upper portion of the filter frame is cut away as at 35 and the upper meeting edge of the pivotal. lamp houshig is also recessed as at 3-7. Also, in order that the film may pass out of the projector, the bottom meeting edge of the lens housing 6 is recessed as at 38 for cooperation with a complementary recess 39 formed in the bottom face edge of the lamp housing 4. The film guiding and aligning gate mechanism generally is indicated by the reference numeral 4E! and this mechanism is housed in the chamber 33 at the forward open end of th main housing l of the projector.

Film guiding and aligning mechanism Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and i, the film guiding and aligning gate mechanism comprises a resiliently supported pres sure plate M which is adapted to normally urge the film tightly against the stationary plate 42 when the lens housing is in closed position. The latter plate is mounted to be fixedly carried by the pivotal lens housing 6 by means of suitable screws 43 and swings bodily therewith when the lens housing is opened or closed. The resilient pressure plate Al is suitably disposed between the fixed laterally disposed guide member 45 secured to the plate 28 by means of suitable screws at. This lateral film guide 45 provides a stationary member for constantly receiving and aligning one edge of the film as the latter passes through the. projector. Oppositely disposed with respect to the fixed guide 45 is a movably mounted guide 48 that is adapted to engage the other edge of the film and by resilient means will hold the film laterally against the fixed guide 45.

The pressure plate 4! i disposed between the fixed guide 45 and the movable guide 48 with film during the transposition of sufficient clearance to allow fore and aft movement thereof and it is to be noted as best shown in Fig. 3 that the pressure plate is provided with three apertures 51, 58 and 59 which are adapted to definitely outline each particular frame of the triplicate set of pictures of the same photographed object. The pressure plate 4! is also provided with lateral arms 66 which are adapted to fixedly receive the studs 6| slida'bly supported in the bearing sleeve members 62 also secured to the plate 23. Suitable spring 53 encircle the studs 65 and are confined between the fixed bearing sleeve 62 and the pressure plate Al to maintain the latter forwardly and in engagement with the rear side of the film to hold the latter against the fixed backing plate 42 carried in the pivotal lens housing 6,

In order to permit the free movement of the the pictures which are being projected, the pressure plate H is bodily moved rearwardly by means of a pres sure plate retracting lever 659: comprising among other things the vertically disposed ends 65 of th U-shaped bracket 66 (see Fig. 6) The ends 55 of the bracket lie adjacent the reduced ends 51 of the studs El and are adapted for engaging the screws 68- which are threaded into the reduced bores 61 of the studs 6|. The bracket 66 is pivotally supported to. be rocked about a shaft it pivotally supported by means of lugs ll carried by the main housing 4. The central portion 55a of the U-shaped bracket 66 lies beneath the shaft is and is provided with a projecting arm T12. Arm 12 i connected by means of an adjustable pin it to the arm 14 which is fixed to the shaft 73 to rotate directly with the latter. Obviously any motion imparted to the arm F4 by means of the shaft 16 will act to lift the arm 1-2 by means of the head 75 of the pin engaging the under side of the arm 12 and by means of the adjustable nut [5 bearing against the upper side of the arm M. Also, the spring ii is interposed to maintain the proper spaced relation between arms 1-2 and 54' so that suitable adjustment for moving the pressure plate 4! rearwardly by means of the ends 65 of the U-shaped bracket 66 may be conveniently accomplished.

Synchronized motion is imparted to the shaft is by means of an arm 89 connected with and secured to shaft 1%, the arm being actuated through the operation of the film transport mechanism in a mannerwhich will hereinafter be fuily explained. The foregoing mechanism provides the means and mechanism whereby the film is always maintained in a fixed focal plane with respect to the lens groups mounted in the ivotal lens housing 6 and the latter when released and opened also provides the means for properly threading the film through the projector and through the guiding and aligning mechanism as described above The lenses Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, it will be seen that these groups of lenses 87,88, 89 are employed, arranged one above the other in line with the pressure and backing plate apertures, and adjustably mounted for focusing them and for adjusting them through a vertical plane and through horizontal planes to register the pictures and superimpose them one upon the other on the screen. The lens mounting and lens adjustment means are substantially the same as those shown and described in my prior application above referred to, to which reference may be had for a full understanding of this construction and operation. No further description of the lense and their mountings is thought necessary so far as this'specification is concerned since they form no part of the subject matter of this application. v f 7 Film transport mechanism The film transport mechanism I3 is supported by means of a bracket 20] fastened to the underside of the lamp housing 4 by means of the screws 292, see Fig. 3, which pass into the appropriate bosses 203. The sideiplate 204 is secured to one endof the bracket 201 by means of screws 205, said plate depending from the upper end of the bracket and being secured at its lower .end by means of tubular spacers 296 andbolts 201, which pass through the spacers and thread into the depending side 203 of the bracket 20!. Another housing 209 is securedtotheside 208 of the bracket 20! for housing a portionof the film transport mechanism therein as best shown in Figs. '7 and 8.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 7, 8 and 9, which illustrate the film transport mechanism, movement is imparted to the film by means of the drive shaft 2H! when the latter is rotated by the hand wheel 2| I. Shaft H is journaled in the side 268 of the bracket 20! and in the side plate 204 and projects into the housing 209. An actuating arm H2 is secured to the end of the shaft 2!!) within the housing 209 and the arm 2i2 i normally maintained against the stop M3 by means of a coil spring 2l4 which has one end looped about the-stop 2l3 with the other end. disposed in-a hole "in the actuating arm M2. The foregoing mechanism will, therefore, maintain the shaft 2E0 in a definite position at all times and at th same time the shaft 2l0 may be rotated a limited amount against the action of the spring 214 with the spring returning the shaft and the hand wheel 2 to theirinitial position 209. The latch wheel 240 is provided with the notch 24! whichis adapted toreceive the end 242 of the lock arm 243. The lock arm 243 is pivotally supported at 244 on the side plate 208 of the bracket 20l and thespring 245 is adapted to normally urge the lock arm 243 in a direction 7 to maintain the stop lug 242 in the notch 24! of the latchwheel 240. The lock arm is provided with a springepressed dog 246 pivotally supported at24 'l. onthe lock arm 243 and the spring 248 normally holds th dog 246 against the ear 249 which is partof the lock arm 243 and which is bent at right angles to the face thereof. With this particular construction, the dog 246 provides a driving. means for rotating the lock arm 243 whenever the actuating arm H2 is rotated by means of the hand wheel 2| I, since the dog 246 and actuating arm 212 are disposed in vertical alignment with the dog in the path of the actuating arm. v

- The drive to the film sprocket 250 is completed by means of the shiftable gear train designated generally by 25I and which is enclosed within the housing 209. .A gear unit comprising the bearing member 252 is provided with a slot 253 engageable by the pin 254 secured to the end of the shaft 223. The bearing member 252 journals on the end of the shaft 223 and has a stub shaft portion 255 connectedtherewith for supporting 40 the gears 256 and 251 for rotation therewith.

whenever the hand wheel 2|,l is released. The

actuating arm 2I2 is provided with a. lug 216 adapted to strike against the stop 2 l3 for limiting the movement of the hand wheel 2| l and its associated shaft 2 i0 when the hand wheel is turned against the action of the spring 2.

The drive from shaft 2"! is transmitted to a shaft 2E9 through the instrumentality of a gear segment'2i9 secured to shaft 210 and the pinion 228 secured to shaft 2i8. Shaft H8 is provided with a reduced bore 22] adapted for receiving the reduced end 222 of shaft 223 which is aligned with shaft 2 l8. This provides two relatively movable shafts rotatable about a common axis and the shafts are supported in the bearings 224 and 225 carried in the side plate 204 and bracket 208, respectively, with their intermediate support being provided by the connection HI and 222.

In order to transmit the drive from th shaft 2! to the shaft 223, a lost motion connection is provided which includes a first disc 228 (see also Figs. 10-12) keyed to the shaft 213 and which pivotally supports the dog 229, and a disc 230 that is secured to the shaft 223 and the latter supports a pin 23! inthe path of the dog 229 of the disc228. The dog 229 is normally maintained in fixed relation to the disc 228 and also with respect to-the pin '23! by means of the spring 233 which is connected between the ear 234 of the dog 229 and the pin 235 secured to the side of the disc 228. It is to be notedthat the ear 234" is made to project'at right angles to the face The outer end of the stub shaft 255 is provided with spacedgrooves 253 and 259 to each releasably engage spring-pressed ball 260 in the manner best illustrated in Fig. 8. The outer end of the'stubshaft 255 projects through the housing 209 and the hand knob 26l is secured to the projecting end of the shaft. By moving the stub shaft 255by means of the knob 26! from the groove position 259 to the position 258, the gears 256and251 are shifted as a unit to engage the gears 262 and 263 by selection depending upon whether the knob 26! is moved inwardly Or outwardly relative to the housing 299.

The other gears 262 and 263 are riveted to the flange 264 of the supporting member 265 and the latter is keyed to the shaft 266, which traverses the housing 209. nd the bracket 20l and side plate 204. The drive from the shaft 266 is transmitted to the film sprocket 256 through releasable clutch means 261.

.The clutch 26-! and clutch actuating mechanism forms no part of the present subject mat ter and for a. j full understanding of the same references may be had to my prior application above referred to. 7 I

v Operation of the filrlr transport mechanism Referring now more particularly to Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive, the operation of the'film transport mechanism may. best be described as follows: The rotation of the actuator arm 2l2 will cause the arm to strike the end of the dog 246 which in turn will; rock the lock arm 243 about its pivot 244 to movethe latch lug 242 of the arm out of the notch'24l of the latch wheel 240.

During this movement, the segment gear 2 !9 will revolve the pinion 220, but as best shown in Fig. 10, the dog 229 by its position relative to the pin 23! when turned in clockwise direction has sufiicient movement prior to the engagement of the pin 23! to allow the free movement of the parts hereinbefore referred to. As the actuator arm 2!2 continues its motion and as best seen in Fig. 11, the lock arm is now moved out of engagement with the notch 24! and continued motion of the shaft 2!!) and its actuator arm 2l2 will now cause the dog 229 to have its hooked end 231 engage the pin 23!. Obviously, as the dog 229 engages the pin 23!, shafts 2!8 and 223 (see Fig. 8) will now rotate as a unit to drive the gear group comprising the gears 256 and 25! through the instrumentality of the pin 254 and the slot 253, the latter also being best illustrated in Fig. 8. Continued rotation of the shaft m by the knob 2| I will now cause the actuator arm 2!2 to pass beyond the end of the dog 246 releasing the lock arm 243- and the latter through the action of the spring 245 will then be rotated in a clockwise direction to cause the lug 242 of the arm to engage against the outer peripheral surface Of the latch wheel 246. At this state, the arm 243 and its associated mechanisms will be held against rotation and in the fixed position shown in Fig. 12, while continued rotation of the shaft 2 l now additionally drives the gears 256 and 257 through the segmental gear 209 and pinion 22B and the connected shafts 2? and 223.

Rotation of the shafts 2!!! and 223 as a unit is then continued until the notch 24! best shown in Fig. 12, will again receive the lug 242 of the arm 243. To insure positive engagement of the lug 242 within the slot 24!, the peripheral sur face of the latch wheel 24!! is flattened substantially as shown at 30!! to drop the lug 242 radiall into the path of the wall of the notch 24! oppositely disposed with respect to the surface 300. It is therefore seen that each movement of the hand wheel 2!! through the mechanism described will cause one complete revolution of the shafts 2? and 223 as determined by the notch 24! on the latch Wheel 2413, and its relation to the lug 242 on the lock arm 243.

Also, the reverse motion of the disc 228 carrying the dog 229 is greater than one revolution in view of the fact that the dog as best shown in Fig. must first advance to engage the pin 23! and thereafter rotate the pin through 360 degrees. It is for this reason that the dog 229 is resiliently maintained against the face 236 of the disc 228 by means of the spring 233 inasmuch as the reverse motionof the disc 228 will then allow the surface 300a contiguous with the'hook portion 23'! of the dog to engage and snap past the pin 23! during the 'reversalof movement of the shaft 2l3 carrying the disc 228. Obviously, the disc 228 and its dog 229 will then be returned to the position illustrated in Fig. 10, after the pinion 220 and its driving gear segment Eli! are returned to the position initially shown in Fig. 10, wherein the actuator arm 2!?! will abut the stop 2!3 which is the initial and inoperative position of the film transport mechanism.

The gear mechanism indicated generally at 25! in Fig. 8 has been devised for the purpose of providing means for advancing the film either three frames at a time or by means of a single frame whenever black and white individual frame picture projection is desired. It is for this purpose that the shifting device as best illustrated g in Fig. 8 has been incorporated. The drive as now shown with the knob 26! moved adjacent the housing 209 will provide the necessary rotation through the gears 256 and 262 for rotating the sprocket 259 an amount whereby the lineal movement of the film will bodily advance successive groups of three frames of each photographed object for the purpose of color projection.

Whenever the knob 25! is moved outwardly and away from the housing 209 into its other position, the drive from shaft 223 through the pin 254 and notch 253 will now be transmitted through the pinion 25! and gear 263 providing a difierent gear ratio whereby the drive to shaft 266 will advance the film sprocket 250 to the extent whereby the film will be advanced a single frame at a time whenever black and white single frame projection is desired.

With the transport mechanism justdescribed it is possible by means of the reductions imposed through the-various gears to obtain a high speed film advance which will be great enough so as to be substantially imperceptible to the eye without causing annoyance to the observers during screen projection. It is to be noted that the film advance is controlled by approximately a quarter turn of the knob 2!! making it simple for an operator to obtain the high speed through the transport gear mechanism. It is for this reason that the present projector has made possible the elimination of shutter mechanism, adding to the simplicity of the entire projector with a corresponding saving in the cost of production by eliminating such additional mechanism.

Since eachpicture transposition requires only about a 90 degree turn of the knob 2!! and the latter is automatically returned to its initial position each time by the coil spring 2!4, only a slight movement of the hand efiiciently changes the 40 projected picture's.

Pressure plate release mechanism It is desirable to release all pressure on the film during the advance thereof by means of the film transport mechanism and this is accomplished through the agency of the arm 83 rockably carried 0n the shaft 70 which provides the instrumentality for retracting the pressure plate 4! to allow free passage of the film during transposition between the pressure plate 4! and the fixed backing plate 42, in the manner that was hereinbefo're fully described.

Movement of shaft 16 by means of the arm is accomplished by means of the contact ear member 8011 which is, turned at right angles to the face of the arm 86 and which operates within the housing 269 to normally bear against the outer surface see of the lock arm 243. The ear 80a is normally maintained against the surface of the end of the lock arm 263 through the action of the resilient means associated with the pros sure plate mechanism.

Referring now to Fig. 10, it is seen that the initial movement of the actuator arm 2!2 for rocking the lock arm 243 will cause the end 80a of the arm 80 to rise from the surface 801) to the surface the which is concentric with respect to the pivot 244 of arm 243 prior to any film motion, inasmuch as the dog 229 has not yet engaged the pin 23!, and obviously as the ear 80a rides upon the surface 800, shaft '10 will be rocked in the proper direction by means of the arm 89 to move thepressure plate 4! away from its film p0sitionin'g relation against the backing plate 42. With this mechanism in combination with the film transport means, a positive release of the filmjis first effected prior to any lineal movement thereof which is the ideal situation.

Theforegoing completes the description of the new and novel features combined and contained substantially as shown in the drawings and as embodied in the projector of the present invention. No particular reference hasbeen made to the manner and means in which some of the members of the condenser system, etc., are supported nor. in the manner in which the, lamp is connected to the housing inasmuch as these constructions are well known to those skilled in the art. Likewise the projector is provided with suitable light Shielding diaphragms, and such dividers or light shields are usually supplied for the prevention of light diffusion between the respective triple projection members utilized in color photograph projection Or the like.

The foregoing description relating to the preferred embodiment of the present projector as disclosed in the drawings may obviously permit various modifications in the preferred construction that presumably will not depart from the general scope and field of the present invention. Hence, it is to be understood that the present projector isnot to be limited to the exact form, construction, arrangement or combination of parts as specifically referred to and described, or

for the particular uses mentioned, excepting insofar. as shall be governed by the appended claims.

What I .claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A film transport mechanism for intermittently advancing the film through a releasable pressure plate unit adapted for holding said film in a predetermined focal plane, comprising a main,

drive shaft, a pair of coaxially aligned countershafts, and a film driving sprocket to advance the film for changing the picture images, actuating means connected between said drive shaft and one of the countershifts to positively revolve the latter, a one way clutch unit for connecting said countershafts, said clutch being adapted to operatively join said countershafts after a predetermined interval of movement of said main drive shaft, sprocket driving means connected between the other of said countershafts and the film sprocket to advance the film during the effective operation of said one way clutch, and release means adapted to be driven by said main drive shaft during the interval of movement of said shaft prior to the joining of said countershafts for operatively releasing the pressure plate unit and the film therebetween before said film is advanced by said film sprocket.

2. In a projector, the combination of film transport mechanism for intermittently advancing a film through the pressure plate mechanism of film guiding and aligning means, said transportmechanism comprising a drive shaft, a pair of coaxially aligned countershafts, and film sprocket mechanism to intermittently advance. the film images, actuatingmeans connected between said drive shaft and one of said oountershafts torevolve the latter; a one way clutch mechanism for connecting said countershafts at a predetermined interval during the actuation of said drive shaft, and sprocket driving means connected between the other of said countershafts and said sprocket mechanism to advance the film during the'effective operation of said one way clutch, said pressure plate mechanism including release means connected with said transport mechanism for re-" leasing the pressure plate mechanism from the 10 film during theadvance of said film, said transport mechanism having operative means whereby said release of the pressure plate mechanism is accomplished before the operation of said clutch 5 mechanism and prior to the movement of said film, and whereby said release means maintains said pressure plate mechanism in inoperative position until said transport mechanism completes the film advance.

0 3. In a projector, the combination of a stationary apertured plate and a retractible springpressed apertured pressure plate between which plates a film strip is held in a predetermined focal plane, film transport mechanism including a drive shaft, a first driven shaft driven from said drive shaft, a second driven shaft in coaxial alignment with said first driven shaft, and a lost motion clutch connection between said driven shafts, a

film advancing sprocket and operative connection between said second named driven shaft and sprocket, means for retracting said pressure plate, means actuated by said drive shaft during the interval oflost motion of said lost motion connection, to actuate said pressure plate retracting means, whereby to release the pressure on the film during the entire movement of the film advancing sprocket.

4. In a projector, the combination of a lamp casing and a lens housing, lenses insaid lens housing, a stationary apertured plate carried by said lens housing and a retractible spring-pressed aperturedpressure plate between which plates a film strip is held in a predetermined focal plane, film transport mechanism including an oscillatory drive shaftia first driven-shaft driven from said drive shaft, a second driven shaft in coaxial alignment with said first driven shaft and a lost motion clutch connection between said driven shafts,- a film advancing sprocket and operative connections between said second named driven shaft and sprocket, meansfor retracting said pressure plate, means actuated by said drive shaft during the interval, of lost motion of said lost motion 7 611111011 connection to actuate said pressure plate retracting means, whereby to release the pressure 7 on the film strip during the'entire movement of the film advancing sprocket,

5. In a projector, the combination of a lamp casing and a lens housing, lenses in said lens Eu: housing, a stationary, apertured plate carried by said lens housing and a retractible spring-pressed apertured pressure plate, between which plates a film spring is heldin apredetermined focal plane, -film transport mechanism including an oscillatory 5:, drive shaft, a first driven shaft driven therefrom and a second driven shaft in coaxial alignment with said first driven shaft, a lost motion clutch connection between said two driven shafts for coupling them to rotate as a unit during a portion to .of the cycle of movement of the drive shaft, and

a film advancing sprocket operative drive connection between said secondznamed driven shaft and sprocket, pressure plate retracting mechanism and means-actuated by said drive shaft to (iii actuate said plate retracting mechanism during the interval of lostmotion of said lost motion clutch connection, whereby pressure on the film strip is released during the entire movement of p the second named driven ing sprocket,

v6. In a projector, the combination of a lamp casing and a lamp housing, lenses in said lens housing,- a,stationary apertured plate carried by v the lens housing and a retractible spring-pressed apertured pressure plate, between which plates a shaft and film advanc- 11 film strip is held in a predetermined focal plane, film transport mechanism including an oscillatory drive shaft, a first driven shaft, a gear segment mounted upon said drive shaft, a pinion mounted on said first driven shaft and meshing with said gear segment, a second driven shaft in coaxial alignment with said first driven shaft, a lost motion clutch connection between said two driven shafts for coupling them to rotate as a unit during a portion of the cycle of movement of the drive shaft, and a film advancing sprocket, operative drive connections between said second named driven shaft and sprocket, pressure plate retracting mechanism and means actuated by said drive shaft to actuate said plate retracting mechanism during the interval of lost motion of said lost motion clutch connection, whereby pressure on the film strip is released during the entire movement of the second named drive shaft and film advancing sprocket.

In a projector, the combination of a lamp casing and a lens housing, lenses in said lens housing, a stationary apertured plate carried by said lens housing, and a retractible spring-pressed apertured pressure plate, between which plates a film strip is held in a predetermined focal plane, film transport mechanism including an oscillatory drive shaft, a first driven shaft driven therefrom, a second driven shaft, a lost motion connection between said two driven shafts for coupling them to rotate as a unit during a portion of the cycle of movement of the drive shaft, a film advancing sprocket, and operative drive connection between said second named driven shaft and sprocket, an oscillatory pressure plate actuating lever, a rockable lock arm arranged to engage said lever to shift it to pressure plate releasing position, and an actuating arm carried by said drive shaft for shifting said lock arm into film release position during the lost motion period of said lost motion connection.

8. In a projector, the combination of a lamp casing and a lamp housing, lenses in said housing, a stationary apertured plate carried by the lens housing and a retractible spring-pressed apertured pressure plate, between which plates a film strip is held in a predetermined focal plane, film transport mechanism including an oscillatory drive shaft, a first driven shaft driven therefrom and a second driven shaft, a lost motion connection between said two driven shafts for coupling them to rotate as a unit during a portion of the cycle of movement of the drive shaft, said lost motion connection comprising a dog carried by one driven shaft and a pin carried by the said second named driven shaft and arranged to be engaged by said dog, said dog having an interval of lost motion in its cycle of operation, a film advancing sprocket, operative drive connection between said second named driven shaft and. sprocket, pressure plate retracting mechanism and means actuated by said drive shaft to actuate said plate retracting mechanism to thereby release pressure on the film strip during the interval of lost motion of said, lost motion connection, whereby pressure on the film is released during the entire movement of the film advancing sprocket.

9. In a projector, th combination of a lamp casing and a lens housing, lense therein, a'stationary apertured plate-carried by the lens housing and a retractible spring pressed pressure plate cooperating with the stationary plate to hold a film strip therebetween in a fixed focal plane, film transport mechanism including an oscillatory drive shaft, a gear segment thereon, a first driven shaft, a pinion thereon meshing with said gear segment, a second driven shaft, a delayed action clutch for coupling said driven shafts to rotate in unison during a portion of the cycle of rotation of the first named driven shaft, a film advancing sprocket and drive connection between said second named driven shaft and sprocket, pressure plate retracting means comprising an actuating arm on the drive shaft, a lock arm actuated thereby ,during the initial movement of the drive shaft, and a lever having one end connected to the pressure plate and the other end arranged to be engaged and moved by said actuating arm in a direction to retract the pressure plate prior to the clutching operation of the delayed action clutch whereby the entire advance of the film strip occurs subsequent to the release of the film strip.

10. In a projector, the combination of a lamp casing and a lens housing, lenses therein, a stationary apertured plate carried by the lens housing and a retractible spring-pressed pressure plate, cooperating with the stationary plate to hold a film strip therebetween in a fixed focal plane, film transport. mechanism including an oscillatory drive shaft, a gear segment thereon, a first driven shaft, a pinion thereon meshing with said gear segment, a second driven shaft, a delayed action clutch between said driven shafts comprising discs, one mounted on each shaft, a dog pivotally mounted on one disc and a coacting pin mounted on the other disc and extending into the path of movement of the dog, the dog and pin being circumferentially spaced apart when the shafts are stationary, whereby the first driven shaft is capable of partial rotation relative to the second named driven shaft, a film advancing sprocket and drive connection between said second named driven shaft and sprocket, pressure plate retracting means comprising an actuating arm on the drive shaft, a lock arm actuated thereby during the initial movement of the drive shaft, and a lever having one end connected to the pressure plate and the other end arranged to be moved by said actuating arm in a direction to retract the pressure plate prior to the clutching operation of the delayed action clutch, whereby the entire advance of the film strip occurs subsequent to the release of the film strip.

11. In a projector, the combination of a lamp casing and a lens housing, lenses therein, a stationary apertured plate carried by the lens housing, and a retractible spring-pressed pressure plate carried by the lamp casing and cooperating with the stationary plate to hold a film strip therebetween, film transport mechanism including an oscillatory drive shaft, a gear segment thereon, a first driven shaft, a pinion thereon meshing with said gear segment, a second driven shaft, a delayed action clutch for coupling said driven shafts to rotate in unison during a portion of the cycle of rotation of the first named driven shaft, a film advancing sprocket, and drive connections between said second named driven shaft and sprocket, pressure plate retraction means comprising an actuating arm on the drive shaft, a lock arm actuated thereby during the initial movement of the drive shaft and having a looking connection with the second named driven shaft when the driven shafts are stationary, said lock arm having also lever actuating means, a lever having one end connected with the pressure plate and its other end lying in the path of movement of said lever actuating means of the lock arm and adapted to be shifted thereby in a direction to retract the pressure plate prior to the 13 time the clutching action takes place between the two driven shafts, whereby the film strip is released prior to the advancement thereof by the sprocket.

12. In a projector, the combination of a lamp casing and a lens housing, lenses therein, a stationary apertured plate carried by the lens housing, and a retractible spring-pressed pressure plate carried by the lamp casing and adapted to cooperate with the stationary plate to hold a film strip therebetwee-n, film transport mechanism including a drive shaft, a film advancing sprocket 14 and driving connections between said drive shaft and sprocket, said drive connections having a delayed action clutch therein whereby the drive shaft may be partially rotated without driving the sprocket, and a pressure plate retracting lever having one end connected with the pressure plate and its other end arranged to be actuated from said drive shaft, prior to the time it rotates the sprocket, whereby pressure on the film strip is re- 19 leased prior to the movement of the sprocket.

WILLIAM A. LEBUS. 

